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Judge Michael Mettyear told McCalmon: “You have been convicted of the murder of Ben Tilling on clear and compelling evidence.

“It was a brutal murder by you, using a knife to stab him a number of times. The force you used was severe.

“You had no good reason to attack him at all. It was a cowardly attack.

“It is not for the first time you have been involved in nasty, violent offending."

The scene of Ben's fatal stabbing in Lord Street in Grimsby in 2007 (Image: Jon Corken)

Judge Mettyear said McCalmon chose to run a “cowardly” defence, in which he tried to blame Mr Lydon, whom he knew perfectly well was innocent and had tried to help Ben.

“You were devious and calculating, and you did all you could to get out of this offence,” added the judge.

Paul Watson QC, mitigating, said McCalmon did not act in a premeditated way and was still young. He had already been recalled to custody after a previous arson conviction. He offered no other mitigation.

The prosecution claimed McCalmon, who is known as Dyer, repeatedly stabbed Ben in a revenge attack because he blamed Ben for helping to get him locked up for arson about 18 months earlier.

Ben, of Rockingham Crescent, Laceby Acres, Grimsby, died despite the efforts of police, paramedics and hospital staff to save him.

McCalmon’s sentence means the Parole Board will decide if he is fit to be released in 2022.